SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State swim and dive team opens its 2022-23 campaign on Friday, Sept. 9, when it plays host to the University of San Diego in the annual pentathlon between the two schools at Aztec Aquaplex. Race time is set for 1 p.m. PT.
SDSU posted a 13-0 mark in dual meets last season and has not been defeated in its last 36 duals dating back to Jan. 8, 2018, a span of almost five years. In addition, the Aztecs have completed an unblemished dual-meet schedule in seven of the last eight seasons.
Head coach Mike Shrader, who is entering his 16th season at the helm of the Aztec program, garnered Mountain West Coach of the Year accolades for the eighth time in his career last spring after guiding the Scarlet and Black to its third conference championship in the last four seasons and sixth in the last 12 campaigns.
At the 2022 conference meet, Shrader's Aztecs set a MW record with a team score of 1,541.5 points, while his student-athletes captured 55 all-league honors. Not to be outdone, San Diego State was the only program to have all five of its relay teams merit all-MW distinction, while its 35 individual honorees were the most at the meet.
Over the summer, three Aztec all-conference performers competed in the 2022 Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, California.
Kristina Murphy, who holds seven different all-time top-10 marks at SDSU and is a four-time all-conference selection swam in the 200m breaststroke, while 2022 all-MW honoree Alex Roberts took part in the 100m backstroke. In addition, Meredith Smithbaker, the Freshman of the Meet at last spring's conference championships, raced in the 100m backstroke.
Friday's meet will mark the 11th time in the last 12 seasons in which San Diego State has opened its season with a pentathlon meet against USD, with the Aztecs winning all 10 previous encounters.
Last season, Murphy topped the pentathlon standings with a combined time of 4:59.19, followed closely by Roberts at 5:00.58, as the Scarlet and Black prevailed by an 18-6 count.
Following its clash with the Toreros, SDSU returns to the pool on Thursday, Oct. 6, when it travels up the coast to battle Pepperdine in a dual meet, starting at 10 a.m. PT in Malibu, California.